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Emerging Role of Diet & the Gut Microbiome in Oncologic Therapy: Cancer Prevention to Survivorship

The gut microbiome plays a key role in the development and treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer. Evidence-based research suggests that fiber diversity and whole food dietary intervention can alter the gut microbiome. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the gut microbiome and the influence on cancer from prevention through survivorship. The impact of the gut microbiome during oncologic therapy, including treatment for solid tumors, bone marrow transplantation, and immunotherapy, will be presented. Precision diet therapy, nutrition support practices as well as the importance of early enteral nutrition and the significant role it plays in the modulation of the gut microbiome and cancer outcome will also be addressed. Objectives: 1. Describe the primary influential factors in the development of the gut microbiome. 2. Discuss the role of the gut microbiome and impact on oncologic therapies. 3. Review evidenced-based nutrition support practices for oncology patients including diet recommendations for maintaining a healthy gut microbiome during therapy and beyond. Speaker: Paula Charuhas Macris MS, RD, CSO, FAND, CD is the Supervisor of Medical Nutrition Therapy Services, with over 38 years of experience at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington. She provides medical nutrition therapy to hematopoietic cell transplant patients with an emphasis on the adult allogeneic population. Aside from patient care, Paula has been involved in clinical research, food safety practices, staff education, and training dietetic interns. She has presented at multiple national conferences and is widely published on nutrition support and hematopoietic cell transplantation. Paula has served ON DPG as the western area coordinator, continuing education chair, and treasurer, and currently serves as the awards coordinator. She is the recipient of the Academy’s Excellence in Clinical Practice Award and the ON DPG Distinguished Practice Award.